Damn those gadgetfreaks........

I was about to go and purchase a TomTom GO at lunchtime and decided to check the dedicated GPS market again.

Navman have released a new version, the ICN510.

From what few reviews are around, the size is smaller than the TomTom GO. The mapping seems to be as good (both do street level) and the battery life is comparable.

TomTom screen seems ok, but not as good as the navman, which does have dedicated buttons for some stuff.

Audio on the navman is poorer than the TomTom.

Comparable prices, so which would you go for?

(It's going to be used in anger at weeken to navigate around London.......on foot)

Looking at a quick comparison and then reading the individual reiews (buy clicking on the products) I'd go for the Navman as it seems more flexible and is only a couple of quid more. Both are being offered with free speed camera site downloads as well

Damn, just noticed, the Navman ain't available from my normal source (www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk) until January. The navman does look good though

Or how about the Garmin equivalent?

Not as expandable though

Have wandered over to a store in manchester where i can get a "discount" of sorts and bought the navman.

1st impressions:

Very light.

very slim.More so than the TomTom.

I'll get round to the speed camera stuff over the next week or so (there is a free one over on pocketgps.co.uk iirc.

Took a few minutes to get a satellite lock, but given that i'm currently well away from any sky'views, standing by the window in the next office was rather satisfying.

I've set my drinking room for monday in London, so we'll see how it copes....

Niggle: it doesn't like individual house numbers, only giving "blocks" of numbers.

But that's just being ultra picky. If I can't work out the numbers on a house when I'm on the street, I probably shouldn't be allowed to drive!

All in all, seems like a very nice unit so far.

I used the Navman in anger this evening, taking a couple of women from work home (to their home, before Rob get's any ideas....... )

Quite impressed.

I obviously knew my way most of the way home, and although I go a slightl different route to the Navman's first route, it was exceptionally quick to re-route accordingly.

Got me to the door spot on.

No fuss, not stress.

However, I have encountered one issue:

It's far too quiet.

The review over on Pocket GPS has it only one star less than the TomTom GO, bit I could barely here it over the stereo.

That could prove to be a serious issue..........athough it can be argued if I don't know where I'm going, perhaps groovy tunes to distract me aren't a good idea in the first place.

It does have a headphone socket though, so a single earpice a la bluetooth style might be the answer...........i'll see how I go over the weekend in the Big Smoke.

Highly recommended though.

(Gadget Rating, 8.7.........!)